We ensure young children get the best start in life by supporting and regulating the early childhood education and care sector. We are the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population.

Drivers and vehicle operators are legally responsible for ensuring that child car seats and boosters are installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

We recommend that all child car seats and boosters be fitted at an authorised fitting station. If the combined weight of the student and their child car seat is 32 kg or above then the child car seat must be secured using a reinforced anchorage point. These are also available at authorised fitting stations. Vehicle operators are responsible for the cost.

Wheelchairs

Students who use a wheelchair for mobility should not be transported in their wheelchair if they are able to transfer (even with assistance) into a child car seat or vehicle seat.

Many wheelchairs can be folded, which enables them to be safely stowed and secured in a vehicle. If a student's wheelchair needs to travel with them, please indicate this on the application or change request.

If a student needs to travel in a wheelchair, it needs to be in good repair and suitable for transport. If you are unsure whether the wheelchair is suitable for use in transport, please consult your student's therapist.

type of transport lugs/ brackets or stickers that identify location where chair can be secured

type of accessories or equipment that need to travel with the student.

All wheelchairs should be anchored securely at the four tie down points. The student must also use the vehicle's seatbelt.

We also recommend that where applicable, the student's therapist is consulted to ensure that the student's posture and equipment have been recently reviewed.

Aids and appliances

Some students need to have access to medical equipment on transport or travel with accessories. Examples include trays, oxygen cylinders, feeding pumps, suction units, ventilators and batteries communication devices or other aids and appliances.

This equipment needs to be safely secured and stowed in transport vehicles. If a student needs to travel with medical equipment and/or accessories, please contact the education team at schools.astp@det.nsw.edu.au to discuss the student's individual needs.

Specialised equipment and instructions need to be listed as part of the student's health care plan for transport.

Specialised equipment for behaviours of concern

Some students with disability travelling in a vehicle may have behaviours of concern that pose a risk of injury to themselves or other occupants.

Travel harnesses are expensive for parents to purchase and we recommend that the family engage the services of an occupational therapist and psychologist/behaviour support practitioner before a student application or change request form is submitted.

Regular review of harnesses and belt buckle covers used in transport is recommended. This is to see if the student can travel independently without one or if they have physically outgrown the current harness. The use and installation of harnesses in vehicles need to comply with the suppliers or manufacturer’s instructions.

To use a seat belt buckle guard cover or a travel harness parents are required to obtain a letter from a doctor stating that the student has a disability and identifying the need for the equipment.

The letter needs to be dated and written on official letterhead. In NSW this letter is a legal requirement for belt buckle guard covers. It is also a legal requirement that a copy of this letter is kept in the vehicle at all times.

If students are using belt buckle covers and/or travel harnesses a webbing cutter must be carried in the vehicle at all times. In all cases where specialised transport equipment is used on assisted school travel, it must be included in a current transport behaviour support plan.

Further information

If you have any questions about specialised transport equipment for students please email schools.astp@det.nsw.edu.au or call 1300 338 278.

NSW Department of Education

Copyright, privacy and accessibility

This information is current as at 15/09/2019 07:57pm, AEST. For the most up-to-date information, go to https://education.nsw.gov.au/student-wellbeing/health-and-physical-care/health-care-procedures/allergies.